This weekend I am visiting my grandparents in Omaha, Nebraska. They're serving at the Winter Quarters Trail Center. I can't wait to tour it and learn more about the pioneers who paved the way for the church! I'm so grateful for all that they have done. This summer our stake is having a pioneer trek and with all of the chatter and preparing events, I am super excited for it! My mom has recently found a lot of her ancestors and almost every day I hear a new story. It is so powerful! I hope to get into it too. There is such a sweet spirit here and now I don't want to leave. I'm looking forward to enjoying this weekend and having my testimony strengthened through the pioneers and learning about their history. I will write more later this weekend on what I have learned. See you in the next paragraph! (really a couple days later. . .)
Wow this place has such a special spirit. I've come to appreciate even more what the pioneers did for us. They were all so faithful and trusted in the Lord without hesitation. It makes me look back on my life and think that if I were asked to do what they did, if I would have enough faith to leave everything behind to follow the prophet. When our family was touring the Kanesville Tabernacle this morning, there was a scripture on the wall which shows the faith of the pioneers and now is one of my favorite scriptures. "Lo, we have left all, and followed thee." (Luke 18:28). Would you leave all to follow President Monson? Recently, the reminder to continue to kindle your testimony has been taught to me and it is so true. When you strengthen your testimony in little every day ways you will be able to make the right choice when hard decisions come in your life.
We were also able to tour the Visitors Center which is next to the Winter Quarters temple. Throughout the tour my family members shared some amazing personal experiences and stories that really made me think about the Plan of Salvation. We are so blessed to have this knowledge. There are 7 billion people on this earth. Only .002% (15 million Church members) of the world knows that we lived before we came here, that we will see our loved ones again, and that we can live with them together forever in God's presence. I think I take it for granted too much. The pioneers really understood that knowledge because there were many who sacrificed their lives for us. They knew that life went on.
Next to the temple there is a cemetery where they buried all of the pioneers that died while at Winter Quarters. Some of them are my relatives. And it really brings everything into perspective. One view from the Visitors Center you can see the cemetery and the temple next to each other. Life does not end at the grave. There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon that my grandfather shared. I read over it when I read the whole Book of Mormon but I didn't appreciate as much as I should've.
We were also able to tour the Visitors Center which is next to the Winter Quarters temple. Throughout the tour my family members shared some amazing personal experiences and stories that really made me think about the Plan of Salvation. We are so blessed to have this knowledge. There are 7 billion people on this earth. Only .002% (15 million Church members) of the world knows that we lived before we came here, that we will see our loved ones again, and that we can live with them together forever in God's presence. I think I take it for granted too much. The pioneers really understood that knowledge because there were many who sacrificed their lives for us. They knew that life went on.
Next to the temple there is a cemetery where they buried all of the pioneers that died while at Winter Quarters. Some of them are my relatives. And it really brings everything into perspective. One view from the Visitors Center you can see the cemetery and the temple next to each other. Life does not end at the grave. There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon that my grandfather shared. I read over it when I read the whole Book of Mormon but I didn't appreciate as much as I should've.
"And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the
bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should
have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection
therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in
Christ."
One last point I would like to make goes back to when I mentioned that the pioneers relied on the Lord. We can all relate to the trials that they went through. They had to get over mountains, blaze new trails, and go without food sometimes. Although most of us do not have these struggles we have our own mountains. They can be mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical. I know that if we build our foundation on Christ (Helaman 5:12) and keep our faces turned to Christ that we can overcome our mountains. Jesus Christ is the way. Without him, we would not be able to return with those that have gone before us to never be separated again.
I know that this is true. Satan will not be able to tempt us if we put Christ before all. He is my Savior. I love him so much. Without him, I would have no purpose. I seek to bless others because of Him. The joy that I have in my heart right now I know is because of Him. I love this Church so much. There is a prophet on the Earth today that leads and guides this Church on the right path. Keep on Keepin' on. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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